The Bromfield Trojans boys varsity basketball team upset the fifth-seeded Bethany Christian Eagles by a score of 63-49 last Monday, marking their first playoff victory since 2008, when the Trojans marched into the state semifinals.
The Trojans came into the playoffs with a 12-8 record, looking to upset the reigning Worcester County Athletic Conference champion Eagles, who were 15-5.
Bromfield got off to a slow start, falling behind 9-2 three minutes into the game, before slowly marching back behind two consecutive three-point plays from Mid-Wachusett all-star forward Nick Ashe. The Trojans ended the quarter leading 14-13.
Bromfield’s tandem of juniors, Brian McCullough and Sam Shepherd, scored 14 of Bromfield’s 16 second-quarter points. Shepherd came off the bench for senior forward Sean Thurston, who was limited in his playing time due to a knee injury. Thurston still contributed six points and four rebounds in the contest.
The Trojans’ full-court pressure initially bothered the Eagles, who turned the ball over on three of their first four inbounds passes in their backcourt, but after beating the press, they scored easily, as Bromfield was slow to recover. Sophomore Matt Griffin provided two effective hustle plays in the first half, first out-muscling Bethany Christian forward Zack Pfeffer for the ball, and then running the length of the court to beat Pfeffer to a loose ball, and hitting Ashe for an easy lay-in. Pfeffer led his Eagles with 16 points.
Thurston hit a tip-in as the half expired that brought his team back to tie the game at 30 going into halftime.
Bromfield used the break to alter their defense, switching to a tighter man-to-man in order to cause more Eagle turnovers. The switch was successful, with Bromfield scoring the first ten points of the half before Bethany Christian finally scored with 3:30 left in the quarter. Bromfield’s shooting guard Luke Broganer led Bromfield with six points in the quarter, including a three-pointer and a three-point play. After being tied at halftime, Bromfield led 49-35 just eight minutes later.
With a 14-point lead, Bromfield was able to relax into a contained defense, with Shepherd and McCullough making many high-percentage shots that helped inch Bromfield forward. Bethany Christian lacked any urgency until the final minute of play, when a timeout was called with them behind by 10 points with 50 seconds to play.
Ashe sealed the deal for the Trojans by sinking five of six free throws in the last minute, and Bromfield won the game by a score of 63-49. Ashe scored 13 points, while adding seven rebounds and four steals.
Shepherd, who finished with 12 points and five rebounds, and McCullough, 16 points and four assists, combined for 13-of-17 shooting. Bromfield shot 65 percent from the floor; their only lapse in the game was two-of-nine shooting from three-point land.
Before the game, Bromfield’s senior small forward Jeff Yates was named Mid-Wach League Most Valuable Player, Bromfield’s second MVP award in four basketball seasons. Yates, however, did not score until the final minute of the third quarter. He distributed the ball well, though, making an impact with eight assists to go with his six rebounds and two points.
Bromfield’s next game will be Friday, March 4, against the winner of the Keefe Tech v. Ayer match-up. The location is yet to be determined.
